HELCOM Phytoplankton Expert Group (HELCOM PEG)

(2017-2019)

Objective

The main target of the project is to ensure and maintain high quality standard of the international Baltic Sea regional phytoplankton monitoring within the HELCOM COMBINE Programme. This should be achieved by:

discussion and review of phytoplankton indicators developed by Lead Countries and to dedicate part of annual meetings to this objective,

commenting the HELCOM phytoplankton indicator reports and indicator evaluations for use in HELCOM assessments,

supporting the definition of data requirements for phytoplankton indicators and an appropriate data reporting format to ensure that the COMBINE database hosted by ICES provides the data needs for HELCOM phytoplankton indicators,

comparing the HELCOM core indicators with OSPAR indicator work after HOLAS II.

Background

Quality assurance of data is an important component of the HELCOM monitoring programme, and measures were early taken to evaluate and improve the recommended methods through intercalibrations between the different partners. In 1991 HELCOM PEG was established, with the main aim to unify methods of collection, counting and identification of phytoplankton species. Since accurate biomass estimates are important in phytoplankton monitoring, PEG has also made considerable efforts to standardise size-classes and biovolumes of phytoplankton species found in the Baltic Sea. The use of a standardised species list with fixed size-classes and biovolumes is a decisive measure to improve the quality of the phytoplankton counting method and the comparability of results.

Activities

The main activities within the project will be carried out at the annual
workshops. Intersessional activities will be organized if needed. The
following types of activities are planned:

Activity:

Aim:

Training courses

To maintain continuity and high quality in phytoplankton identification and quantification, in particular because a new generation of phytoplankton researchers and analysts are currently joining the PEG;

To follow recent changes in taxonomy of problematic and important phytoplankton groups in order to keep the PEG Phytoplankton list up to date.

Intercalibrations

To keep the high standard of phytoplankton monitoring in the Baltic Sea, to assure the comparability of results.

Further unifying the counting method

To continuously update the HELCOM monitoring manual for phytoplankton species composition, abundance and biomass.

Revision of the biovolume file

To add new species and size classes when necessary; to update the biovolume file according to recent taxonomical changes in co-operation with ICES Data Centre.

Production of environmental fact sheets

Platform for phytoplankton indicators

Updating and production of environmental fact sheets to track changes in phytoplankton community structure.

The project will serve as a forum for discussion of phytoplankton indicators being developed in HELCOM and review the results of the indicator evaluations of the HELCOM holistic assessment (HOLAS II) to be finalized 2017-2018.

At the training courses it is planned to consider:

Identification of phytoplankton species;

Maintaining and upgrading of the expertise for identification of alien species;

Making representative and validated images of the Baltic Sea phytoplankton species public in the HELCOM PEG image gallery at, www.Nordicmicroalgae.org.

Consistency with HELCOM priorities

In this project the HELCOM priorities are met by assuring that the quality of the phytoplankton data is high enough to evaluate effects of eutrophication, changes in biodiversity and long-term trends. This data is for example crucial for the work with the EU Water Frame Directive.

Timetable

The project will be carried out in 2017-2019 as a continuation to the ongoing HELCOM PEG project for 2014-2016. More specific timetable:

Regular tasks will be discussed during all workshops, especially:

discussion on new species and size classes that have occurred in the previous year's samples including

non-indigenous species

discussion of new environmental fact sheets and updating of the existing one

harmonization of species identification by common microscoping of samples from the Baltic Sea

harmonization of analyzing methods by discussing the methodology and committing intercalibrations

information on recent changes in taxonomy of planktonic microalgae

new images to add to the phytoplankton image gallery

information on new relevant literature, projects about e.g. the development of phytoplankton indicators, meetings and conferences.

Specific tasks to support the development and evaluation of phytoplankton indicators:

2017: Comment on phytoplankton indicator analyses made for the HOLAS II report and indicator evaluations on phytoplankton by February 2017.

2018: Comment on phytoplankton indicator reports and indicator evaluations according to deadlines agreed in the HOLAS II project.

Useful links to the products of HELCOM PEG

Biovolume file, with biovolumes and fixed size-classes used
for the calculation of phytoplankton biomass in routine monitoring of Baltic Sea
phytoplankton (updated 2013). For geometrical shapes used, see Olenina
et al 2006. Note that the above Excel-file of biovolumes should be used both
for species and biovolume list in routine monitoring of Baltic Sea
phytoplankton.

Phytoplankton sampling and analysis is carried out according to the Phytoplankton monitoring manual within the HELCOM COMBINE.